Machine for cutting sheet material



-March 25, 193( E. E. WINKLEY 1,751,568

MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 30, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig.1.

March 25, 1930. E. E. WIN'KLEYY' 1,751,568

MACHINE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 30, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNITED: TATE ERASTUS n. WINKLEY, or LYNN,ranssncnusnrrs, essrenonro UNITED. snot:

MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NE\V JERSEY, CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY MACHINE non cU'rrrNGsHEnr ATERIAL Application filed July at),1926.. Serial No. 125,987.

This invention relates to machines for cutting sheet material, and isherein illustrated cut from strips to a size approximating that of thedesired blanks and corresponding to the size of the die for producingthe blanks. This practice frequently. necessitates the maintenance of alarge quantity of cut sections zit-hand, especially where the demandforblanks of different sizes varies considerably. Where a single machine ofthe type referred to is used for producing blanks-of different sizes(considerable diiiiculty has been .experiencedin properly locating suchsections in respect to the dies. Also,- it frequently happens that someof the sections supplied to the machine, such as waste pieces occurringat the ends ofstrips, are not'long enough to produce full size blanks orare 7 otherwise imperfect, resulting in thedieingout of incompleteblanks which are mixed in with the perfect blanks. v

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved machine 1 for economically producing from sheet materialperfect blanks over a range of sizes by the use of which the above-namedand other difficulties will be obviated.

lVith this object in view, one feature of the invention comprisesftheprovision, in a machine for operating upon sheet materiahof a d e, meansfor cutting sheet materialinto sections approximating the size of thedie, a member positioned between the die and the cutting means forreceiving the sections as Such sections,'in order to avoid excessivewaste of materlal, are customarily they are cut, and means foi'rfeedingthe mateaccurately with respect to the die.

rial to the cutting means and the sectionsto 5 the die and .locatmg thesuccesslve s ecti ons in the provision of improved means for sosupporting sections ofsheetmaterial with relation to the cuttingedgesofia die as to facilitate the feeding of the sections to the dieand the location of the sections one at a time upon the .die. i

To this and, in the illustrated machine the section-receiving member-'above referred to comprises an extensible table located adjacent toadie and adjustable with respect to the edges of the'die. Theconstruction'of the table is such that it can be properly located withrespect to'a given die which may be any one of a number of diesofdiflerent sizes.

Means associated withthetable is-provided for moving sections over thedie to locateeach section longitudinally with respect to the cuttingedgesthereof, Preferably, the means referred to comprises a feed fingervmounted on the table in such manner'as to be efiective .in locatingsections uponthe die ir-. respective of the position of adjustment ofthe table. I

Still another feature ofthe invention resides in improved mechanism forinsuring that the waste pieces which are apt to occur at the rear endsof strips of stock will not be fed to the die; To this endtheillustrated machine isjprovided with detecting means WillCll, uponthe exhaust on of a strip to a predetermined extent, operates to preventany more stock from that strip being fed to the die, means beingprovided for disposing of the waste end remaining. Preferably, and asshown, the detecting means comprises a feeler which,'upon exhaustion ofthe stock contains less than an amount of material sufficient to producea complete section, operto the extent that the remainder of a sheetfresh stock to the table until the front end of the stock, whichv isusually uneven or otherwise unsuitable, has been cut off and removedfrom the line of feed. To this end the illustrated machine comprisesmeans for retain ing the table in its displaced position with re spectto theline of feed of the material while newly-inserted material is fedto the cutting -means and the waste end is cut off. Means associatedwith the cutting means is provided for detecting the presence of thefresh material, and is effective to initiate mechanism for returning thetable to its normal position.

Other objects of the invention, and the feature's of construction bywhich they are attained, will beset forth in connection with thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the illustratedmachine;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing some of the operating elements ofthe machine; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing in detail a portion of the sectionfeeding mechanism.

The machine constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention asillustrated in the .drawings comprises a die 10 (Fig. 1) mounted on abase 12 supported in the frame ofthe machine, and a cutting block 14arranged for reciprocation toward and from the die 10 by means of apitman 16 eccentrically mounted on a power shaft 18 carried in the upperportion of the frame. In the construction shown the die 10 is anupstanding hollow heel die adapted to co-operate with the cutting block14 in producing heel parts from sections or blanks, such as sections orblanks 20, which have previously been severed, by means of a knife 22from a strip of sheet stock 24, preferably composed-of severalthicknesses of leather, leather-board or other sheet material.

A stationary support 26 is provided for supporting the sheet material 24while it is being fed to the knife 22 by means of feed rolls 28 and 30,a movable table 32 being positioned between the die '10 and the support26 to receive and support sections 20 cut from the material 24.

The feed rolls 28 and 30 are driven by a gear 34 through the pinions 36and 38, in such manner as to advance the material 24 over the table 26,between operations of the knife 22,by a distance equal to the length ofa section to be cut. For operating the feed rolls a gear 40, keyed tothe shaft 18, is arranged in mesh with a gear 42. Eccentrically mountedon the gear 42 is a stud 43 to which is attached one end of a connectingrod 44, the other end of which is pivotally cennected to a plate 46mounted for reciprocation on a bearing 48. On the under side of theplate 46 is a rack 50 in mesh with the driving element 52 of a clutchmechanism which is constructed to cause rotation of the gear 34 in aclockwise direction each time the rack 50 is moved to the right, butwhich is disconnected from the gear 34 during the return movements ofthe rack. In this wayintermittent feeding movements of the feed rolls 28and 30, in one direction of rotation only, are effected. The clutchmechanism above mentioned is of the type disclosed in United StatesLetters Patent No. 1,291,728, granted January 21, 1919, upon anapplication filed by W. C. Baxter, which may be referred to for adetailed description of the parts and operation of the clutch.

It will be apparent that the distance the stock 24 is advanced duringany one feeding movement of the rolls 28 and 30 is dependent upon thedistance the rack 50 is moved to the right by the rod 44. Accordingly,the feeding of the stock, and consequently the length of a blank 20 tobe cut from the stock, may be varied by changing the throw of theconnecting rod 44. This may be r adily accon plished by adjusting thestud 43 toward or away from the center of the gear 42.

The mechanism for effecting operations of the knife 22 comprises a cam54, rotatable with the shaft 18, and having a cam track 56 whichreceives a roll 58 carried at one end of a lever 60 pivotally mounted at62 on a portion of the frame. A link 64 forms a connection between theother end of the lever 60 and the knife The cam 54 is designed to effectmovements of the knife 22 downwardly only at such times as the feedrolls 28 and 30 are stationary, thusaveiding cutting operations of theknife during the feeding of the stock. After sections 20 are severedfrom the stock 24, subsequent advancement of the stock by the feed rollswill force the sections across the table 32 by steps corresponding tothe length of a section, the section nearest the die at the beginning ofa feeding movement being pushed on to the die, which is so supportedthat its cutting edges lie in a plane below the plane of the table.

It is desirable that the first operation of the knife upon a freshsupplyoof stock be effective to trim the forward end thereof in order toprevent the inclusion in the first section cut of roughened, curled, orragged, portions usually occurring at the ends of a strip of material.If, however, the stock were advanced a full feed step for the firstoperation of the knife, considerably more material would be severed thannecessary. Accordingly, a finger 66, pivoted at 68 on a portion of theframe,'is provided for limiting the inward movement of fresh stock untilsuch time as the feed rolls have nearly completed a feeding movement.The finger 66 has an upturned end portion which, by the action of aspring 70, is moved upwardly through an opening 72 (Fig. 2) inthe'support 26' into contact'with the stock being advanced over thesupport. When there is nostock in position over the opening 72, the endof the finger 66 extends above the surface of the support and acts as a;stop for fresh stock inserted by the operator. The mechanism providedfor lowering the finger 66 so that the stock may be fed at the propertime com prises a shaft 74 adapted to be driven by a link chain 7 6operatively connected to the shaft 18. Fixedly secured to the shaft 74isa cam 78 upon which rides a roll 80 carried by a lever 82 pivoted to theframe at 84 and connected to the finger 66 by means of a link operationsof the feed rolls will advance the stock beyond the knife the requisitedistance forthe cutting of full length blanks.

Provision is made for accurately locating a blank on the'die 10. Tothisen'd, a finger 88 is arranged for contact with that portion of ablank which extends below the table 32, when a blank has been fed partway on to the die, and operates to push such blank over the die untilits farther e'dge is in contact with a gage'90 mounted on the base 12.As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the finger 88 is carried by a lever 92pivotally mounted on a pin '94 secured to a lug 96 extending from'thelower surface of the table 32. On oneend of the lever 92 is a roll 98arranged for contact with a plate 100 carried by a pin 102 looselymounted in the frame. The plate 100 is arranged for positive movementupwardly by means of a lever 104 pivoted at 84 and having a roll 106which rides on a cam 108 mounted on the shaft 74. A spring 110 isarranged consequently to elevate the plate 102. This efiects'acounterclockwise movement of" the lever 92 resulting in the engagementof'the to drop by gravity, and the springllO opits most extendedposition.

section by the finger 88 whichforces the blank over the die intoposition with its farther edge in contact with'the gage 90, where it isheld during an operation of the cutting block 14 Fig. 1 shows thefinger- 88 in advanced position just after an operation of thecuttingblock. After such operation takes place the plate 100 is allowed eratesto return the finger 88 to its original position beneath the table 32. 1

The table 32 is designed for supporting a plurality of sections,preferably two, in such manner thatone of the sections is supported withits advanced edge in proximity to'the die, but out of the path ofmovement of the cutting block. In order to provide for the positioningof the table 32 for dies of different sizes, the table is composed oftwo interlocking sections 114 and'116. The section 114 is supported by.a rod 118 slidably mounted in anextension 120 of the machine frame.Extending from the lower surface of the section 114'is a lug 122 inwhich is mounted a plunger 124 attached to the lug 96 fwhich: projectsfrom the section 116. By means of the plunger 124 and interlockingfingers 126' and Y128 the section 116 is supported in the plane of thesection 114, but is capable of movement in a longitudinal direction.At;-v

spring- 130 tends to move the section 116 to The arrange-: ment justdescribed thus provides means whereby the table maybe extended asrequired to form a support for one or more sections of asizecorresponding to the size of the die positioned in the machine.

For limitingthe extension of the table sec tion 116 under the action ofthe-spring 130 there is provided a rod or gage 132 secured to thelug 96and adapted to contact with an. inclined lug 134 projecting from thebase 12 of the die. Preferably, each die 10 to be used in theillustrated'machine isprovided'with a lug, similar to that shown at 134and so located according to the size of the die carried by the basethat'the g'age132 will be effectivein positioning the table with itsforward edge at the requisite distance from the die. I Means is providedfor moving the table 3 out of the path of the advancing stock 24 inorder that waste ends of stock cut from the rear ends of strips will notbe fed on to the table, thus further avoidingthe possibility ofdieingout incomplete heel parts and the feeding of waste pieces to the die. Tothis end, in the illustrated machine, a plurality of fingers 136 areprovided for detecting the exhaustion of stock on the table 26, and arearranged to effect operation of mechanism to raise the table 32 when thestock remaining on the table is insuflicient for producing a completesection. The fingers 136 are pivoted at 138 on an arm 140 extending froma the edge of the table 26.

vertical plate'142 which is slidably supported in a guide 144 mounted onthe frame. Mounted at 146 on the rod 118 is a lever 148 arranged foractuation about the center 146 by means of a cam 150 secured to theshaft 74 and making contact with a roll 152 on the lever 148. At one endof the lever 148 is a roll 154 which contacts with the lower surface ofa plate 156 mounted for oscillating movement about the pivot 158 on thearm 140. The fingers 136 are so shaped that their lower ends 160normally extend above the plate 156, and their upper portions projectabove the plane of the table 24 through a slot 162. hen, however,material is positioned over the slot 162, the fingers are rotatedcounterclockwise around the pivot 138 into such position that theirlower ends 160 are positioned over an opening 164 in the plate 156.Consequently, as long as there 1s sufiicient stock to hold down thefingers, rotation of the cam 150 willproduce oscillatory movements ofthe lever 148 about the pivot 146 and of the plate 156 about the pivot158. NVhen,

however, the stock has been advanced over the table 26 to the extentthat the rear edges thereof lie beyond one or more of the fingers 136,one or more of the latter, as the case may be, will be rotated bygravity into such position over the plate 156 as to hold the platestationary. cause rotation of the lever 148 about the roll In this casethe cam 150 will 154 as a center, thus forcing the rod 118 and the table32 upwardly. The remainder of the guided by the extension will not onlybe raised but will be moved laterally away from In'this manner contactof the knife 22 with the section 114, while in raised position, isavoided. The table section 116 rises with the section 114, lateralmovement being rendered possible by reason of the inclined surface ofthe lug 134. However, .ince this surface is arranged in parallelrelation to the axis of the rod 118, the relative positions of the tablesections 114 and 116 and the gage 96 are not changed, and consequentlythe length of the table 32 is not varied during its movement.

I In order to insure that the waste pieces shall be removed during suchtime as the table is raised, means is preferably provided in addition tothe feed rolls 28 and 30 for ejectinn; such waste material. Accordingly,a

plurality of feelers 166 is provided. These remaining is at or beyondthe line of contact with the feed rolls 28 and 30, the feelers will dropdown on to the table and will execute a movement longitudinally of thetable to push the waste piece over the edge thereof. Thefeeler-actuating mechanism, preferably and as shown, comprises a systemof links operable by means of the slidable plate 46. during movementthereof to the right. To this end, the feelers 166 are supported bylinks 168 and 170, and levers 1-7 2 pivoted at 174. At the upper end ofeach lever 172 is a link 176 which carries a pawl 178. The pawls 1 8 areheld in inoperative position above racks 180 on the plate 46, duringsuch time as stock is positioned, below the feelers, by means of rods182 pivoted on the feelers 166 and having forked ends for receiving pins184 of the links 176. When one of the feelers 166 drops upon the table26, the link 182 is depressed permitting the pawl 178 to engage with therack 180. As the latter moves to the right the link 176 then causesrotation of the link 172 the lower end of which forces the feeler 166 tothe left along the table to eject the waste piece. Movement of thefeelers 166 is terminated by contact of the links 168 with a stop 186,further movement of the racks 180' to the right resulting in the raisingof the links 176 and the pawls 178 which are withdrawn from engagementwith the racks by means of a spring 188. The feelers are normally heldin contact with the upper surface of the stock by means of springs whichact on the levers 172 to tilt the feelers downwardly. Excessive movementof the link system to the right is prevented by a stop 192.

Mechanism is provided for holding or locking the table 32 in its raisedposition during such time as a waste piece of stock is being ejected anduntil after fresh stock has been inserted in the machine. Asillustrated, this mechanism comprises a dog 194, mounted on the lowerend of the rod 118, adapted to cooperate witha latch 196 on a bell-cranklever 198 rotatably mounted at 200 on the frame. Pivotally connected toone end of the lever 198 is a vertically extending rod 202 which iprovided with a fixed collar 204 arranged for contact with an arm 206forming an extension of the lever 148. A spring 208 is attached to thelever 198 in such manner as to continually force the rod upwardly sothat the collar 204 is maintained in contact with the arm 206. As longas the lever 148 oscillates about the point 146, relatively smallmovements of the rod 202 and the lever 198 will take place, the partsbeing maintained substantially in the relation shown in Fig. 1. However,when the exhaustion of stock results in a movement of lever 148 aboutthe roll 154 as a pivot to raise the table 32 as previously described,the arm 206 will be raised, the rod 202 will be elevatedyand the latch196 rotated into a position of engagement with the dog 194, thus lockingthe table 32 in its raised position.

The timing of thecam 150 is such thatthe mechanism for raising table 32begins to operate just after a downward stroke of the knife 22. As thetable rises the waste end of stock is ejected and there will be no stockfor the knife to operate upon until fresh stock is supplied to themachine. sirable to trim the forward end of such fresh stock, thusnecessitating ejection of a waste piece, the table is maintained inraised position until the completion of the first opera tion of theknife on the stock, afterwhich the table is lowered to its-normalposition.

For detecting the presence of stock newly presented to the knife, inorder that the mechanism for holding the table out of its normalposition may be released, a plate 210 is slidably mounted on the knife22. ,Pivoted to the knife at 212 is a lever214, one end of which isconnected to a slide 216 positioned on the rod 202-. The other end ofthe lever 214 is providedwith a nose .218 with which the plate 210 isheld in contact by means of a relatively weak spring 220, thearrangement being such that the plate and lever are moved up and downwith the knife during operation of the latter. When the rod 202 iselevated. in looking the table 32 in its raised position,

a collar 222 secured to the rod is broughtinto the path of movement ofthe slide 216. Consequently, when thelever'214 descends with the knife,the slide contacts with the collar causing rotation of the lever in aclockwise direction resultingin depression of" the nose 218 and amovement of the plate 210 down-' wardly with respect to the-knife. Thisoperation of theplate is repeated upon eachdowne ward stroke of theknife as long asfth'ere'is no material positioned adjacent to'the; knifebeneath the plate 210. 'However, when stock has been fed underneath theknife,-upon-the next operation of the latterj the plate 210 will strikethe upper surface-of the stock and will be held stationary asthe knifepasses through the material. Theleveris then rotated in acounterclockwise direction due to contactof vthenose 218 with the top.of the plate, thus causing the slide, 216 to move the collar 222 withthe rod-202 downwardly.

This results in rotation of the lever 198 to 're-r lease .the latch 196,and the table32 is returned by gravity to its normal position.

In order that the feelers136 may be rendered effective for determiningthe exhaustion of stock for the cutting of blanks of various sizes,-theslide supporting the fingers is arranged for adjusting movements bymeans of agage 224 which is'slidably'mounted' at 226 in the frame. Thegage 224 contacts at,

one end with a projection 228'onthe die base 12, and at the other endwith a portion of an arm' 230 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 74.The arm230 is arranged for con- Since it is de' tact with a projection232 extending from the arm 140 on the slide 142.; The length of theprojection 228 is so'relate'd to the size 7 of the shaft 18 effectssimultaneous reciproca-oction of the cutting block 14 and of the knife22, and rotation of the. feed rolls 28 and 30 between successivedownward movements of the knife. Assuming that the table 32 is locked bythe latch 196 in aplane above that "of the table 26, toinitiate'op'erations of the machine, the operator places stock on thetable 26 and forces it against the stop 66 which extends above thesurface of the table. Near the-end of the subsequent rotation of thefeedrolls, the stop 66 is permitted to drop and the operator may force thematerial-into contact-with the rolls. The stock is then fed a shortdistance under the knife: 22=which trims the forward end of the stock,the waste piece falling into a chute (not shown). As the knife descends,'theplate 210 contacts with the surface of thestocfk, effecting a rotation of the lever 214, depressing the rod 202 I to release the latch 196from contact with the lower end of the support 118 of the table 32. Thetable is then lowered through action of'the' cam 150 to its normalpositionin alignment with the table 26. Subsequent opera tions 'ofthefeed rolls result in the feedingcof the stock 24 beneath the knife by adistance equalto the length of asection 20 necessary for the productionof a heel part of the size;

desired, furtheroperations of the knife sever} ing sections 20 from thestock.- The sections 20 are forced over the table-32 and drop one at a.time upon the dienlO where they are located in a longitudinal directionby means -of a finger 88which pushes the blank "into contact with thegage 90. Upon .theoperation ofthe cutting block upon theifirst sectionfed to the die, the section is-cut part way through, a second section ispositioned upon the first, and the next operation of the block serves tocompletely sever the first sec-.

tion to form a heel part, thesecond sectiongat; the same time being cutpart-way through.

In this way each section provides a cuttingsurface for the nextprecedingsection.

The blank cutting and dieing operations". continue until the stock remaningion the,

table 36 is lessthanthe amount necessary for a complete blank, at whichtimethe' fingers 136 are efiective to initiate the mechanism for raisingthe table 32. Asth'e rear edge of the remaining piece ofstock on thetable 26 approaches the line of contact of the feed rolls withthesurfaces oft-he stock, one,

or more of the feelers 166 drop from the upper surface and are operatedin such manner as to push the waste piece of stock over the edge of thetable. I i f Having described my claim as new and desire to secureby'Letters Patent of the United States is 2- 1. In a machine foroperating upon sheet material, a die, means for cutting sheet materialinto sections approximating the size of the die, a member positionedbetween the die and-the cutting means for receiving the sections as theyare cut, and means for feeding the material to the cutting means and thesections to the die. I

2. In a machinefor operating upon sheet material, a support for thematerial, die, means for cutting the sheet material into sectionsapproximating the size of the die, a support for receiving the sectionsas they are cut, and means for feeding the material to the cutting meansand the sections to the die.

3. In a machine of the character described, a die, a support for sheetmaterial, a table positioned between the die and the sup-port to receivestock from the support, means for severing from the sheet tiat portionofthe sheet positioned upon the table, and means for feeding the materialpart way on to the tableand for feeding the severed portion to the die.

4. In a machine of the character described, a die, a support for stripsof sheet material, a' table positioned between the die and the support,means for feeding a strip over the table through a distance equal to thelength of'a section to be severed from the strip, and means for severingfrom the strip that portion of the strip positioned upon the table, saidfeeding means being operative to feed the severed section to the die.

' In a machine of the character described, a die,'a support for stripsof sheet material, a table positioned between the (LI@ and the support,means for feeding a strip over the table until the portion of the strippositioned upon the table is sufficient to produce a section of the sizeto be operated upon by the die, and

means for severing from the s rip that por tion of the strio iositionedon the table, said l l I feedln means beln further 0 erative for c b J c1 1 feeding the severed section to tne are. i

i 6. Ina machine of the character described,

a cutter for severin sections from sheet ma terial a die for reducinblanks-from the a O L n p SBOt-lOIlS,"EL movable support positioned beetween the cutter and the die for receiving and s'u ortin the sections,and feed mechanism for feeding material to the cutter and for feedingsections to the die.

7. In a machine of the character described, a cutter for severingsections from sheet material, a die for cutting blanks from thesections, a table positioned between the cutter and the dieforsupporting sections adjacent invention, what 7 I to the die, feedmechanism for advancing the sections one at a time on to the die, andmeans associated with the table for locating the sections upon the die.

8. In a machine of the character described, a die for cutting out blanksfrom sections of sheet material, a table for supporting sections ofsheet material adjacent to the die, means for adjusting the position ofthe table with respect to the die in accordance with the size of thedie, means for feeding the sections to the die, and means associatedwith the table for locating the sections upon the die.

9. In a machine of the character described, a die for cutting out blanksfrom sections of sheet material, a table for supporting the sectionsadjacent to the die, means for feeding the sections one at a time partway on the die, and means for aligning longitudinally with respect tothe cutting edges of the die sections which have been fed part Way onthe die.

10. In a machine of the characterdescribed, a die for cutting out blanksfrom sections of sheet material, a table for supporting the sectionsadjacent to the die and movable toward and from the die, means forfeeding sections to the die, and a finger mounted on the tab-1e foraligning the sections with respect to the cutting edges of the die,irrespective, of the position of the table.

11. In a machine of the character described, die, a cutting blockco-operating with the die for producing blanks from sections of sheetmaterial, an'extensible table positionet adjacent to the die forreceiving and supporting sections of material to be o ierated upon bythe die and block, and means bearing a fixed relation to the size of thedie for adjusting the position of the tablewith respect to the edges ofthe die.

, 12. In a machine of the character described, a die for operating uponsheet material, a table arranged adjacent tothe die for supporting sheetmaterial. means for feeding the material to the die and meansfor-locating the table in position with its edge a predetermineddistance from the edges of the die.

13. In a machine of the character describe-d,

support for sheet material, means for cutting the material intosections, a table for receiving the sections severed, a die positionedadjacent to the table, mechanism for feeding the material to the cuttingmeans and for moving the sections over the table to the die, andmeansfor adjusting; the position of the table with respect to the edgesof the die.

14. In a machine of thecharacter described, a die positioned with itscutting edges extending upwardly. a cutting block co-operating with thedie for producing heel lifts from sections of sheet material, anextensible table adjacent'the die for receiving and supporting sectionsof sheet material to be operated upon, means for feeding the sectionsfrom the table on to the die, and means bearing a fixed relation to thesize of the die for positioning the table with its edge a predetermmcddistance from the edges of the die.

15. In a machine of the character described,

a support for sheet'stoch, means for advancing the stock over thesupport, a cutter forl' severing sections from the stock, a memberpositioned to receive the severed sections, and means for moving themember out of receiving position when less than an amount of stock fora'complete section remains on the support. v

16. In a machine of the character described, a stock support, means forcutting the stock into sections, means for feeding the stock to thecutting means, a table in alignment with the stock support forreceiving'thesections,

plete section remains on the support, and

means operative to feed the remainder of the stock over the edge of thesupport.

18. In a machine of the character described, a die, a stock support,means forcutting the stock into sections, a tablealigned with the stocksupport for receiving the sections,

means for feeding the stock to the cutting means and the sections to thedie, and means for moving the table out of alignment with the stocksupport when less than an amount of stock sufficient to produce onecomplete section remains on the support.

19. In a machine of the character described, a support for sheetmaterial, means for cutting the material into sections, a die forcutting blanks from the sections, a table positioned between the cuttingmeans and the die for receiving and supportingthe sections, means forfeeding the materialto the cutting means and the sections to the die,and means for moving the table and the sections supported thereon out ofthe line of feed of the material when less than an amount of materialsufficient tojproduce a complete section remains on the sup-port.

. 20. In a machine of thecharacter described,

a support for sheet stock, a'cutter for severing sections from-thestock, means for feeding the stock to the cutter, a table for receivingthe severedsections, a feeler for detecting exhaustion of the stock tothe extent that less than an amount sufficient for a complete sectionremains on the support, and means operi able inresponse to'adetectingoperation of said feeler for moving the table out sition for receivingsections. I

21. Ina machine of the character described, a Support for sheetmaterial, means for cut ting sections fromthe-material, means forfeeding thematerial to the cutting means, a feeler operable to detectexhaustion of the material to the extent that the material remaining onthe support is less than an amount I sufficient to produce a completesectionfand means for adjusting the feeler longitudinally of the supportin order that the feeler may be adjusted for detecting the exhaustion'ofmaterial for blanks of different sizes.

22. In a machine of the character described,

of its po- 1 a die for dieing-out heel parts from sections, 7

of sheet material, means for severing sections from sheet materialsupplied to the machine, means for feeding the sections to the die, afeeler for detecting exhaustion of the sheet material to the extent thatless than the 'amountof material sutficient to form a complete heel partremains, means responsive to the actuation of the feeler for renderingthe feeding mechanism inoperative to feed sections to the die, and meansco-operating with the die for moving the feeler into position to beeffective for a section of the size tobe operated upon by the die. v

'23. In a machine of the character described, a support for sheet stock,a reciprocating knife for severing sections from the stock, a'

table normally positioned for receiving the severed sections, means fordetecting exhaustion of the stock, means for elevatingthe table uponsuch exhaustion, a latch forlocking the table in its elevated position,means.

for feeding the waste end ofthe stock over the edge of thesupport, amember mounted on the knife-for detecting the presence of fresh stock onthe support, and means operated by said member for tripping the latch toeffect the return of the table to its normal position. 1 I

24. In a machine of the class described, means for cutting sheetmaterial into sections, a table normallypositioned for receiv ing thesections as they are out, continuously acting normally inefiective meansformoving 1 the table out of-its section-receiving position, and meansfor'rendering the table-moving r w 1 means effective. 5

25. Ina mach-ineof the class described, a I

support for sheet material, means for cutting the material intosections, a table normally positionedfor receiving the sections,'meansfor displacing the table from its section-rematerial for a completesection remains upon the support, means for locking thetable indisplaced position, and means for detecting the presence of a freshsupplyof materialope erable to release the locking means. 1 ,26. In amachine for operating upon sheet material, means for cutting thematerial into ceiving position when less than an amount of v sections, atable norinally positioned for receiving the sections as they are out, arod connected to'the table, a cam, a lever pivotally connected at oneend to the rod, the free end of the lever being arranged for oscillationabout its point of connection with the red by v means of said 0am, andmeans for limiting the movement of the free end of the lever foreffecting an oscillation of the lever about its free end as a pivot tomove the table out of its section-receiving position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ERASTUS E. VVINKLEY;

vsnses

